Chemical Supplier Can't Choose Counsel, Calif. Court Says

Law360, New York (August 27, 2013, 1:18 PM EDT) -- A California appeals court on Monday affirmed that a dry cleaning chemical supplier cannot force its insurers to provide independent counsel in a dispute over the remediation of a California Superfund site, saying the insurers’ reservation of rights created no conflict of interest.

The California Sixth Appellate District found that a lower court did not err in rejecting MBL Inc.’s claim that it was entitled to choose its own counsel because Nationwide Indemnity Co. and other insurers’ reservation of rights raised questions about whose interests the...